Duster



March l0, 1942. H. GOLDFINGER DUSTER Filed May 17' 1940' -ill ` I :inn-mmm .Vi

INVENTOR BYHYMAN G Patented Mar. 10, 1942 i 5 g a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIUSTER Hyman Goldfinger, Brooklyn, N. Y,

Application May 17, 1940, Serial No. 335,673 2 claims'. r(o1. 15-2'10) This invention relates to improvements in dusters and more particularly to brushes for Venetian blinds. v

Obv'ects Among the principal objects which the present invention has in View are: to provide an irnproved duster which will readily clean all surface dust from an object, such as Venetian blinds; to provide a duster having means which will yield to t different size slats comprising a Venetian blind; to be enabled to use the duster on different sizes of Venetian blinds; to provide a duster having two or more members to snugly fit between two or more slats of a Venetian blind; to be enabled to use the improved duster for other utilitarian purposes; to. provide a duster having means which will yield under slight pressure; to provide a construction with minimum parts; to provide flexible means which will yield; to provide a removable covering for the flexible means; to provide a covering of a size substantially the same size of the flexible means; to provide means for securing the flexible means tol a holder; to provide the covering with means for attaching the covering to the securing means; to secure simplicity of construction and operation; and to obtain other advantages and results as may be brought out in the following description.

Drawing Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved duster embodying the invention as applied to a Venetian blind;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the same;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view shown as taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the duster;

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 3 showing a slightly modified construction; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the construction shown in Figure 5.

Descriptz'cm The present invention is directed to a duster which is particularly adapted for cleaning surfaces, such as the slats of Venetianblinds, radiators, pipes, furniture and other objects which require cleaning on more than one side. It is to be understood that objects to be cleaned or dusted usually vary in size and thickness, thus requiring that the upper and under surfaces of such objects be cleaned or dusted in two or more operations. It is to this end that the present c invention is directed whereby more than-one surface may be cleaned or dusted in one operation and in minimum time.

As will be seen from the drawing and referring now more particularly to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, of the drawing, the reference numeral I0 indicates a holder. In construction the said holding l0 preferably is rectangular in shape and substantially square in cross section. 'I'he one end of said holder preferably is sloped and is provided with an angularly disposed threaded opening into which may be inserted a handle II with the said handle projecting outwardly from the holder at an angle. With the holder normally in a vertical position `and the handle angularly projecting therefrom, the duster may be very conveniently used especially when cleaning or dusting the horizontally disposed slats I2 of a Venetian blind I3. l

As above stated the invention'is adaptable for many uses, however, for purposes of clarity and as illustrated in Figure 1, reference will be made as to cleaning the slats of Venetian blinds. As will be understood by those versed in the art, Venetian blinds in construction Vary as to size and thickness in the assembly of the slats I2. To that end and to enable a person to conveniently clean the said slats I2, thereis provided in the onelongitudinal side of the holder Illa plurality of spaced sockets or openings I @extending downwardly in the holder at an angle, with a series 0f said sockets or openings arranged adjacent the outer edges of said holder. In passing it may be said that as many or few openings may be provided dependent on the size of the duster.v The present showing provides for six openings which in practice will accommodate three cleaningelements. Also, it may here be mentioned that the sockets or openings I4, need not necessarily be inalinement with respect to eachother, but can be in staggered relationship without. departing from the scope of the invention or with any loss in effectiveness when cleaning the slats of Venetian blinds or other objects. In carrying yout the invention means are provided to project laterally outwardffrom the sockets or openings I4 of the holder IIJ. Such means conveniently may be in the form of looped members of any desirable construction, such as spring wire, fiat spring wire, spiral springs or any other suitable flexible means which in use will flex or yield under slight pressure. For the present disclosure it has been found that spiral springs I5 are the most desirable as theyarestronger and will remain taut when applied' to objects being cleanedfor dusted. The said spiralsprings i5 preferably are looped so that the outer ends thereof may be inserted in the sockets or openings I4 of the holder I0. When thus inserted and due to the angular disposition of the sockets or openings, the springs will be wider at their central part than at the bottom or top. Under ordinary conditions and due to the angle at which the ends are secured in the sockets or openings the spiral springs will remain taut in place when pulled in an upwardly direction as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3. Though the flexible spiral spring or the like I5 normally will remain within its sockets or openings I4 or when it yields in an outwardly lateral direction from the holder I0, it is desirable, through accident or other circumstances, to insure against displacement of either one end or both ends. To this end each of the said sockets or openings may very conveniently be provided with an adhesive substance, such as glue, cement or other adherent before inserting the ends of the flexible spiral spring as indicated by the numeral I6 in Figures 3 and 4. This adhesive substance will entirely seep intoA all the crevices of the flexible spiral springs and when in hardened condition will prevent pulling either or both` ends of said spring out of the sockets.

Each of said flexible spiral springs or the like I5 may be provided with a covering of any suitable material which will not scratch or mar the surface of an object to be cleaned. Also, it is preferable that such material will readily absorb the dust or dirt as it is removed from the object. In the present showing it has been found that lambs wool will not scratch or mar polished surfaces and at the same time will absorb all particles of dust and dirt it removes. By merely shaking the lambs wool the dust'and dirt absorbed can be removed and should it become too dirty it can be washed without losing any of its effectiveness. As will be seen from the drawing the lambs wool has a skin base I'I and is cut and shaped to simulate a glove I8 of a size approximately that of the spiral springs or the like with each glove providing a recess I9. Said recess preferably may be of a dimension slightly smaller than the over-all dimension of the spiral spring or the like I5, whereby when applying the glove to the spring, the said spring, as indicated in dotted lines of Fig. 3 is distorted by gripping the sides and pressing them toward each other so that the upper portion will yield outwardly, and when in its yielded condition may then be inserted into the recess I9 of theglove I8 with the skin base I'I frictionally and snugly engaging the spiral spring or the like. The snug fit of the glove on the spiral spring or the like I5 will minimize release of the glove during use and at the same time need not require any adhesive to retain the spring in the glove. Also, the glove may be removed if desired by slightly distorting the spring similarly to that when inserting the spring into the glove, and the spring then may easily be pulled out of the glove without tearing or otherwise mutilating either the spring or the glove.

In operation and due to the thickness and flufness of the gloves I8, they will have the natural tendency to be in contact with each other. As heretofore described and referring now more vparticularly to Figures 1 and 2, the duster is the gloves as engaging the upper and under surfaces of two slats I2, the upper surface of another or lower slat and the under surface of the uppermost slat. This operation insures the cleansing of two sides of two slats and one side each of two other slats. After the aforesaid slats have been cleaned the duster is removed and inserted between the next succeeding slats with either the uppermost glove engaging the under surface of the slat which has already been cleaned on the top or the lower glove engaging the top surface of the slat which has been cleaned yon the underside. This operation may then be repeated until all the slats of the blind have been dusted or cleaned. In case an article of furniture is to be dusted or cleaned the same operation as heretofore described with regards to a Venetian blind, may be followed. In the event the article, such as a Venetian blind, has slats of varying thickness no adjustment of the looped spiral springs or the like I5 need be made, as it will be readily understood the springs will flex in any direction when being inserted between the slats and thus will allow cleaning of the surfaces with only a temporary distortion of the springs.

In Figures 5 and 6, the construction is slightly different from that of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. In this showing and as heretofore there is provided a holder I0 provided with sockets or openings I4. These said sockets or openings preferably may be slightly smaller in diameter than the sockets or openings I4 of the preferred showing,and it has beenfound advantageous to present a snug t for the ends of the spiral springs or the like I5 when inserted therein. However, to prevent accidental removal of the said ends .there is driven into the sides and adjacent the edges of the holder, a headed nail 20 for each of the ends of the springs. The driven in ends of the nails will contact the walls of thesprings within the sockets or openings and accordingly have a tendency to slightly spread the spiral and thus assure retention of the springs to the holder. The headed ends of the nails protrude slightly outward from the holder, the purpose of which will presently be described. Gloves I8' of similar construction to those of Figures 1 to l conveniently may be used. However, and not relying wholly on frictional retention to the spiral springs or the like I5, there may be provided extension strips 2I on the sides of the gloves. Said extension strips preferably extend downwardly past the heads of the nails 2i] and are provided with openings with eyelets 22. In practice and to securely retain the gloves to the holders, the extension ends are pulled downwardly until the eyelet openings are applied over the heads of the nails and there held until desiring to remove the gloves for replacing or washing. In passing it may be stated that the gloves are replaceable sas they can be removed from the holder when desired.

Obviously detail changes and modifications may be made in the construction and use of my improved duster without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact construction or operation shown or described except as set forth in the following claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

I claim:

l. A duster of the character described comprising a holder having a plurality of oppositely spaced angularly disposed openings, a looped exible member projecting laterally from the holder,

said member providing ends for disposition in said angularly disposed openings of the holder and of 'a diameter substantially that of the openings thereby minimizing displacement of the exible member therefrom, and a exi'ble glove having a recess therein for receiving said exible member, and means extending partway through said holder engaging the ends of the said flexible member and thereby preventing displacement from the sockets, and said means having a head extending outwardly from the holder for securing the glove fthereto.

2. A duster of the character described comprising a holder having a plurality of oppositely spaced angularly disposed openings, a looped iiex- 15 ible member projecting laterally from the holder, said member providing ends for disposition in said angularly disposed openings of the holder and of a diameter substantially that of the openings thereby minimizing displacement of the flexible member therefrom, a flexible glove having a recess therein for receiving said flexible member, and means extending partway through said holder engaging the ends of the said flexible member and thereby preventing displacement from the sockets, and said means secured to the glove for retaining the glove from sliding oi the flexible member.

HYMAN GOLDFINGER. 

